U.S. patent number 10,323,813 [Application Number 15/725,112] was granted by the patent office on 2019-06-18 for light modules for headlights.
The grantee listed for this patent is Michael E. Hontz. Invention is credited to Michael E. Hontz.
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United States Patent |
10,323,813 |
Hontz |
June 18, 2019 |
Light modules for headlights
Abstract
A light ring module may be used to customize headlights for any
vehicle. A frame supports at least one LED or another light source
and is mounted about a headlight on the vehicle. The light source
may be directly hardwired into the vehicle power system or
independently powered and controlled. The module may be made to fit
any type of vehicle or, alternatively, a bezel may be made to
support the module. Such a bezel would be compatible with a given
vehicle with mounting points and methods according to the
underlying structure. A bezel would also have a slot to support the
light ring module and could, optionally, have a lens through which
the light may shine.
Inventors: |
Hontz; Michael E. (Amory,
MS) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hontz; Michael E. |
Amory |
MS |
US |
|
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Family
ID: |
61757946 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/725,112 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20180094789 A1 |
Apr 5, 2018 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62404072 |
Oct 4, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
41/50 (20180101); F21S 43/15 (20180101); F21V
23/003 (20130101); F21S 41/141 (20180101); F21S
41/285 (20180101); B60Q 1/0052 (20130101); F21S
43/14 (20180101); F21S 41/19 (20180101); F21S
43/19 (20180101); F21Y 2115/10 (20160801); B60Q
2900/10 (20130101); B60Q 2900/30 (20130101); F21Y
2103/30 (20160801); B60Q 1/0076 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
23/00 (20150101); F21S 41/19 (20180101); F21S
41/20 (20180101); F21S 41/141 (20180101); B60Q
1/00 (20060101); F21S 41/50 (20180101); F21S
43/19 (20180101); F21S 43/14 (20180101); F21S
43/15 (20180101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Williams; Joseph L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dobbin; Geoffrey E. Dobbin IP Law
P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present invention claims priority as a non-provisional
perfection of prior filed U.S. Application No. 62/404,072, filed
Oct. 4, 2017, and incorporates the same by reference herein in its
entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A ring light module for vehicles having headlight structures
which further comprise a central headlight mounted behind and
circumscribed by a bezel, the module comprising: a. a support frame
shaped and sized to fit within the bezel and, at least partially
circumscribing the central headlight; b. a plurality of light
sources in an electrical circuit mounted upon the support frame;
and c. a control module to power and control the light sources.
2. The ring light module of claim 1, the light sources being a
plurality of LED's.
3. The ring light module of claim 1, the support frame
circumscribing a majority of the light of the vehicle along a
bottom circumference.
4. The ring light module of claim 1, the support frame being
selected from the set of support frame bases consisting of: rigid
circuit boards, semi-rigid circuit boards, and flexible circuit
boards.
5. The ring light module of claim 1, further comprising a
replacement bezel for the vehicle's light, the ring light module
fitting within a slot in the replacement bezel such that it at
least partially circumscribes the vehicle's light.
6. The ring light module of claim 5, the light sources being a
plurality of LED's.
7. The ring light module of claim 5, the support frame
circumscribing a majority of the light of the vehicle along a
bottom circumference.
8. The ring light module of claim 5, the support frame being
selected from the set of support frame bases consisting of: rigid
circuit boards, semi-rigid circuit boards, and flexible circuit
boards.
9. The ring light module of claim 5, the replacement bezel further
comprising a lens through which the plurality of light sources
shine.
10. The ring light module of claim 9, the lens being at least
partially opaque.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of illumination and more
particularly relates to a lighting unit which is added about a
vehicle headlight for visual effect.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle customization is a significant industry. Just as each
individual creates his or her own personal image with their fashion
and other choices, many desire a personalization of their vehicles.
One particular area of customization is to add decorative lights to
the vehicle. Of particular note, lights may be added to around the
headlight area to create an interesting visual effect. A simple
ring lighting module could be employed to efficiently cause this
effect. Likewise, a replacement bezel may be constructed with the
ability to house such lighting.
The present invention is a ring module designed to fit about a
headlight in a vehicle. The present invention represents a
departure from the prior art in that the light modules of the
present invention allows for customization of a vehicle without
replacing headlight structures, including the headlight bezel or
the lamp itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of customized lighting for a vehicle, this invention provides a
simple ring module easily attached to a vehicle about a headlight.
As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a
new and improved lighting module that is easily installed or
removed, has a low power draw and is unobtrusive to the design of
the host vehicle.
To accomplish these objectives, the lighting module comprises a
frame designed to at least partially circumscribe a vehicle
headlight. Lights, preferably LED's, are mounted upon this frame to
provide the highlighting effect. Power may be drawn from an
individual source or the vehicle power system. Mounting the frame
about the headlight may be accomplished through an adhesive or any
known mechanical mounting system.
By using LEDs, the modules may be individually powered or may tap
into the power system of the vehicle. Such modules may also then be
individually controlled or controlled with the lighting system of
the vehicle. While it is intended that headlight bezels would not
require replacement to use this invention, it should be readily
appreciated that such replacement bezels could also be
manufactured. Rings, as the term is used in this Specification and
the Claims, would include any shape which is designed to at least
partially circumscribe a headlight. This would include circles,
ovals, rectangles, or any type of regular or irregular polygon and
partial (incomplete) forms of these shapes.
The more important features of the invention have thus been
outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows
may be better understood and in order that the present contribution
to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the
invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject
matter of the claims that follow.
Many objects of this invention will appear from the following
description and appended claims, reference being made to the
accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein
like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the
several views.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not
be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a light ring module.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an alternate bezel, with space
for two light ring modules.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an alternate bezel, with
space for two light ring modules.
FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the alternate bezel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the alternate bezel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the alternate bezel of FIG. 4, taken
along line VI-VI.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the alternate bezel of FIG. 5, taken
along line VII-VII.
FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the alternate bezel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the alternate bezel of FIG. 2.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the alternate bezel and
light ring modules of FIG. 2.
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the alternate bezel and light ring
modules of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the
light module is herein described. It should be noted that the
articles "a", "an", and "the", as used in this specification,
include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates
otherwise.
With reference to FIG. 1, a simple light ring module 10
construction could include a frame 20 of appropriate size and shape
upon which are mounted a plurality of LEDs 30, or similar light
sources, connected in an electrical circuit. The frame 20 is made
to comport with the shape and size of a headlight port for a given
vehicle, and may be a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible circuit board.
As can be seen, the frame 20 does not have to be a complete ring.
It is also preferred that emphasis is usually given to the lower
part, underneath the headlight, of the ring module 10 as the upper
part is usually obscured. In this manner, the ring modules 10 may
be properly horseshoe-shaped, U-shaped, ovular, rectangular or be
shaped as any polygon and not necessarily circular, and still be
considered a "ring." The module may have any color of LEDs 30 and
may have a control unit or CPU 40 which may affect a chosen
lighting display. The module 10 may have in independent power
supply or be hardwired into the vehicle's power system 50. A radio
transmitter/receiver 60 may also be utilized to activate or
deactivate the module, or select a display setting. Alternatively,
the module 10 may be controlled with the vehicle's lighting
controls or a separate wired control switch.
For vehicles which do not have space which would support a light
module 10, or for further customization options, specialized light
bezels 70 may be constructed to hold the module (FIGS. 2-11). Each
bezel 70 should have means of attaching to the vehicle at the
already existing bezel mount locations for each vehicle. Commonly,
this will involve the placement of appropriate tabs 80 at specified
locations to interact with the vehicle body as an OEM bezel. Other
mounting strategies and equipment would be determined by the
vehicle and its method of manufacture and underlying structure. At
least one trough 90 is provided to hold a light ring module 10.
Each ring light module may be held in place through the use of
double sided tape or other adhesives. The bezel 70 may have a lens
100, such as a clear window to allow light thorough the bezel 70.
Alternatively, the lens may be partially opaque or may not even be
present, leaving a slot through which the LEDs may shine.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be
made and still the result will come within the scope of the
invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments
disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
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